These can be the focus of 2 to 3 questions at the exam, therefore know the differences:

SYSTEM status checks

System status checks monitor the AWS systems on which your instance runs

• Problem with the underlying host. Example: 

  • Loss of network connectivity

  • Loss of system power

  • Software issues on the physical host

  • Hardware issues on the physical host that impact network reachability

• Either wait for AWS to fix the host, OR

• Move the EC2 instance to a new host = STOP & START the instance (if EBS backed)

INSTANCE status checks

Instance status checks monitor the software and network configuration of your individual instance

• Example of issues

  • Incorrect networking or startup configuration

  • Exhausted memory

  • Corrupted file system

  • Incompatible kernel

• Requires your involvement to fix

• Restart the EC2 instance, OR

• Change the EC2 instance configuration